INTRODUCTION

SERVICE SINCE 1858

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) has served our nation's blind and visually impaired citizens since before the Civil War. Founded in 1858, APH is the oldest company in the U.S. dedicated to creating products for blind people and is the largest organization of its kind in the world.

In partnership with the field of blindness, the APH Department of Research supports the creation of a wide range of products by maintaining ongoing product-specific research and development activities.

Specialty products such as audio books and braille restaurant menus are created by APH for commercial customers. In addition, APH makes custom-ordered materials on demand, such as single copies of large print textbooks.

UNIQUE SERVICES OFFERED

Examples of services offered by APH include:

The monthly APH News, featuring the latest information on APH products and services.

The Louis accessible materials database, including the APH File Repository.

The NIP Training Events: APH partners with Ex Officio Trustees and others to provide National Instructional Partnership events across the country. Contracted experts create and present expanded instruction on the use of specific APH products in educational settings and across educational curricula.

Accessible Magazines: APH offers a free subscription service for accessible editions of Reader's Digest® and Newsweek®. Donations are accepted to defray costs.

MANDATE AND CORPORATE STATUS

Much of APH's mandate is derived from the federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879. This act designates APH as the official supplier of educational materials to all eligible blind students in the United States working at less than college level.

APH is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Responsibility for its administration rests with:

The Corporate Trustees chosen from the local business and professional community.

The Ex Officio Trustees from educational and rehabilitation entities that serve students who are visually impaired and blind across the United States and Outlying Areas.

APH voluntarily complies with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that sets the business standards for corporate governance and financial disclosure.

For additional information on APH and its full range of products and services that support products, visit www.aph.org or our shopping site: http://shop.aph.org.

MISSION STATEMENT

The American Printing House for the Blind promotes independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life.

OFFICERS, TRUSTEES, AND COMMITTEES

W. James Lintner, Jr.
Board Chairman

CORPORATE TRUSTEES

Charles Barr, M.D.

S. Gordon Dabney

George N. Gill

Jane Hardy

Virginia T. Keeney, M.D.

Julie S. Lee, M.D.

W. James Lintner, Jr.

W. Barrett Nichols

Herbert W. Perkins III

Tuck Tinsley III, Ed.D.

Darrell R. Wells

Albert C. Horton, Trustee Emeritus

J. A. Paradis, Trustee Emeritus

J. A. Paradis III, Trustee Emeritus

JoAnn Paradis, Trustee Emerita

CORPORATE OFFICERS

W. James Lintner, Jr., Chairman

S. Gordon Dabney, Vice Chairman

Darrell R. Wells, Treasurer

Tuck Tinsley III, Ed.D., President

William G. Beavin, Vice President of Finance and Secretary

Robert B. Brasher, Vice President of Advisory Services and Research

Jack N. Decker, Vice President of Production

J. Gary Mudd, Vice President of Public Affairs

Paul R. Zurkuhlen, Vice President of Development

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES

Ex Officio Trustees are responsible for the administration of the federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind of 1879. The Ex Officio Trustees are the executive heads of schools for the blind, the chief state school officers of each state department of education, or the executive officers of other agencies serving the blind. If they choose, these executives may designate the Trusteeship to an appropriate professional within their organizations.

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEES OCTOBER, 2008—OCTOBER, 2009

The name of each member is followed by his or her term expiration date.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Michael Bina, Chair, Massachusetts, 2009

Angyln Young, Arkansas, 2009

Frank Simpson, New York, 2009

Barbara McCarthy, Virginia, 2010

Marje Kasier, South Dakota, 2010

Barbara L. Perkis, Illinois, Alternate

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

James Downs, Chair, Georgia, 2009

Nancy Niebrugge, California, 2009

Steven M. Rothstein, Massachusetts, 2009

Suzanne Dalton, Florida, 2010

Stacy Grandt, Wisconsin, 2010

Marty McKenzie, South Carolina, 2011

James Oldham, Tennessee, 2011

Dean Stenehjem, Washington, Alternate

FINANCIAL AND PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

REVENUE DOLLAR

69.5% Federal Quota

11.5% NLS and Other Federal Agencies

5.8% Non-government Contracts

13.2% Other

TYPES OF PRODUCTS SOLD

54% Educational and Other Aids

23% Large Type Publications

14% Braille Publications

9% Recorded Publications

APH PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Braille Pages Produced

FY 2009 — 16,045,085

FY 2008 — 14,902,295

FY 2007 — 15,572,224

Pages Printed in Large Type Department

FY 2009 — 13,664,173*

FY 2008 — 14,398,431

FY 2007 — 21,280,097

Audio Minutes Recorded

FY 2009 — 337,844

FY 2008 — 367,381

FY 2007 — 210,441

*Note: APH now outsources the majority of its printing. The number of pages produced outside of APH are not reflected in this figure.

EXECUTIVE REPORT

Tuck Tinsley III APH President

2009 EXECUTIVE REPORT

Fiscal year 2009 was a year of growth and progress for the American Printing House for the Blind. With the dedicated commitment of APH employees and strong guidance of APH's Board of Trustees, major activities during the year fell into five categories: 1) maintaining focus on APH's mission; 2) strengthening infrastructure; 3) continuing to improve; 4) advancing the mission through prudent use of endowment funds; and 5) celebrating successes.

FOCUS ON MISSION

In line with APH's mission, "To promote the independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life," seventy new products were brought to market in 2009. The new products included Building on Patterns, First Grade, Unit 1; MathBuilders 8; Refreshabraille 18; Wilson Reading System, Large Print; and many others that were met with great demand and positive responses.

Much effort was focused on the new Perkins-APH Brailler, introduced in 2008. Due to several problems with the machine, we stopped taking orders on January 2, 2009; corrected the problems; and again began taking orders on October 6, 2009. APH continues to work with Perkins to make this new writer as reliable as the "Classic" Perkins. The Perkins-APH Brailler is quieter, lighter, and more comfortable to use than the Classic. It includes functions that the field requested: a way to easily read the page while writing, a shorter keystroke requiring less force, margin guides on the front, and a handle that allows carrying without extending the arm away from the leg.

Staff members in Field Services were busy in 2009. Highlights of their activities include:

making 87 presentations at 55 locations;

providing 8 webcasts, including one video webcast;

exhibiting APH products at approximately 50 conferences, workshops, and other gatherings;

hosting National Instructional Partnership events in Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia;

continuing the University Loan Program, sending up to 25 products for a period of six weeks to 11 programs: California State University-Los Angeles, Florida State University, Hunter College, Marshall University, Middle Tennessee State University, Missouri State University, Salus University, University of Arizona, University of Louisville, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Puerto Rico.

APH databases continued to provide valuable services. At the end of FY 2009:

During the year, APH utilized over 300 certified braille transcribers throughout North America, including inmates in eight prison programs, to complete 122 new textbook transcriptions. In addition, staff produced 900 unique tests and test-related materials in accessible media and the Woodcock-Johnson III: Tests of Achievement—Braille Adaptation.

STRENGTHENING APH'S INFRASTRUCTURE

A major 2009 highlight was the acquisition of the American Foundation for the Blind's Migel Library. This 40,000-volume collection, described as the largest non-medical research library on blindness in the world, was named to honor AFB's first Board Chairman, M.C. Migel. For many years, researchers accessed the collection at AFB's Manhattan headquarters. With the Migel Library now in Louisville, researchers and others can access this valuable collection along with four other significant collections at APH: The Barr Library of professional research materials; the APH Museum Collection documenting the history of education for the blind; the AER Warren Bledsoe Orientation and Mobility Archives; and the Braille Authority of North America Archives.

During 2009, we changed the format of "Fred's Head from APH," an online service that provides tips, articles, and resources for blind and visually impaired people, from a database to a blog. With over 3,400 articles posted to the blog, Fred's Head is at the center of APH's initial move into social media, which now includes APH's presence on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Communications staff also continued to add downloadable manuals, webcasts, and video presentations about APH products to APH's website.

ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE

APH's significant investment of money, time, and resources came to fruition when a new system for the APH online shopping site (shop.aph.org), Louis, AMP, and the APH File Repository debuted on April 6, 2009. The new shopping site, which replaces APH's previous web ordering system, brings both new technology and improved shopping opportunities to our customers. In addition, Louis offers many new features and now uses a Google-powered search system. Behind the scenes, we have much closer integration between APH systems and databases, and a solid platform on which to grow and improve.

With the new system, we are better able to gather data on visits to APH's websites and use that information to improve them. For example, from the time we rolled out the new system on April 6 until the end of the fiscal year, we had 34,550 visits to Louis, with the average visitor spending 7.55 minutes and viewing 8.6 web pages. The site had visitors from every state and 84 countries and territories.

Other examples of improvement are:

refinements were made to the Student Registration System to make it easier for those registering students and for APH staff;

we modernized the APH logo; it now features a larger, easier-to-read font; deeper, richer blue color; and has a 3-dimensional "bevel" effect; and

as indicated above, we changed the format of Fred's Head from a database to a blog.

USE OF ENDOWMENT TO ADVANCE APH'S MISSION

We continued the Executive-in-Residence program that was initiated in 2007. APH was honored to have Phil Hatlen as the Executive-in-Residence this year. Phil's major focus was the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), with a survey to determine a) current status-how many blind and visually impaired students are receiving instruction in the ECC; b) how instruction can be improved; and c) what products APH can produce to enhance the teaching of the ECC.

APH coordinates and administers the National Prison Braille Network through endowment funding, hosting and conducting a Prison Braille Forum each year during Annual Meeting. Two publications released this year are 1) Guidelines for Starting and Operating Prison Braille Programs, and 2) The 2009 Prison Braille Program Directory which contains program data and contact information for 31 prison braille programs across the country. Both publications are available free-of-charge.

We also completed seven interviews for APH's Corporate Memory Project this year, including former Board Member George Gill, and current Trustee Dr. Virginia Keeney. Sixty-six oral history interviews of former and current staff and board members have been conducted to date.

CELEBRATING SUCCESSES

During October, November, and December, 2008, the last three months of APH's 150th anniversary and the first three months of FY 2009, we concluded the celebration of APH's 150th anniversary with three activities: the debut of History in the Making: The Story of the American Printing House for the Blind, 1858-2008, at last year's Annual Meeting; completion of the front lawn renovation with the installation of a wrought iron fence on State Street and an original fountain sculpture by a local artist; and a reception honoring Governor Steve Beshear in the APH Museum in December.

In March of 2009, our year-long 150th celebration won the top award of the Kentucky Historical Society, with APH being named Kentucky's Outstanding History Organization for 2008. In addition, the book History in the Making won the 2009 top award, Best in Show, of Southeastern Museums Conference serving the 12 Southeastern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

And, to top things off, sales for 2009 were $24 million, a 4.5% increase over 2008 and the highest total ever for APH.

DATA FROM THE FY 2009 FEDERAL QUOTA CENSUS

Data for FY 2009 regarding the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind indicate the number of legally blind students registered was 59,355, an increase of 1.7% (967) over the number registered for FY 2008. The 2009 appropriation provided $304.93 per student for educational materials, a 2.4% increase over the $297.88 per capita allocation in 2008. Of the 59,355 students, 9.4% (5,560) were registered as braille readers, 26.8% (15,914) as visual readers, 7.8% (4,630) as auditory readers, 34% (20,246) as non-readers, and 22% (13,005) as pre-readers. Of this group, 83.3% (49,442) were registered by state departments of education, 8.8% (5,238) were registered by residential schools for the blind, 5.1% (3,027) were registered by rehabilitation programs, and 2.8% (1,648) were registered by programs for the multiply disabled.

As we begin 2010, APH's 152nd year of service, we remain committed to the provision of textbooks, educational aids, and other materials necessary for the education of our nation's blind students, APH's primary role. Our success in fulfilling this important role depends greatly on the ongoing involvement of consumers and service providers.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and administration, we close by expressing sincere appreciation to our Ex Officio Trustees for the valuable role they play in administering the Act. Special thanks must also be directed to the dedicated employees of APH, without whom APH would not exist.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

SECRETARY'S REPORT, 2009 FORMAL MEETING OF EX OFFICIO TRUSTEES

The 141st Formal Meeting of the Ex Officio Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) convened at 12:40 p.m., October 17, 2009, at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. The following conferees were present:

EX OFFICIO TRUSTEE ATTENDEES

Yvonne Ali (MO)

Dorothy Arensman (GA)

Melanie Austin (UT)

Barbria Bacon (NC)

Collette Bauman (MI)

Michael Bina (MD)

Stephanie Bissonette (VT)

Madeleine Burkindine (KS)

Joseph Catavero (NY)

Derrick Cox (KY)

Suzanne Dalton (FL)

William Daugherty (TX)

Jacqueline Denk (KS)

James Downs (GA)

Karen Duffy (NE)

Inge Durre (AZ)

Susan Egging (WY)

Gail Gibbard (OR)

Sally Giittinger (NE)

Stacy Grandt (WI)

Julie Kagy (NC)

Marjorie Kaiser (SD)

Evelyn Kelso (NH)

Teresa Lacy (AL)

Charlotte Lowry (AL)

Linda Lyle (NM)

Paula Mauro (OH)

Carol McCarroll (TN)

Barbara McCarthy (VA)

Marty McKenzie (SC)

Cathy Nadberazny (PA)

Nancy Niebrugge (CA)

Andrea Noel (DC)

James Olson (CO)

Jonn Paris-Salb (CA)

Barbara Perkis (IL)

Brent Pitt (TX)

Rosie Pridgen (MS)

Todd Reeves (PA)

Dorinda Rife (MA)

Linda Rosendall (MD)

Karen Ross (MA)

Steven Rothstein (MA)

Donna See (WV)

Patsy Shank (WA)

Frank Simpson (NY)

Jean Small (ME)

Dean Stenejhem (WA)

Meg Stone (KY)

Robin Swenson (ID)

Dawn Turco (IL)

Denise Warren (UT)

Dan Wenzel (WI)

Alice Woog (MN)

Stuart Wittenstein (CA)

Angyln Young (AR)

APH STAFF ATTENDEES

Ralph Bartley

Bill Beavin

Janie Blome

Scott Blome

Bob Brasher

Jack Decker

Mary Nelle McLennan

Gary Mudd

Julia Myers

Kathy Smiddy

Jane Thompson

Tuck Tinsley

Debbie Willis

Paul Zurkuhlen

MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING

The meeting was opened with a welcome from Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, President and member of APH's Board of Trustees. Ex Officio Trustees and APH staff in attendance introduced themselves and the organizations and departments they represented.

COMMENTS REGARDING FY2009

Dr. Tinsley provided a state-of-the-company report and highlights of FY2009, which included:

APH's mission and focus on products

Summary of events in 2009

Status of Perkins-APH Brailler

Status of Federal Quota FY2009 and FY2010

APPROVAL OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS

James Downs, Chair of the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) and Ex Officio Trustee representing the Georgia State Department of Education, and Michael Bina, Chair of the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and Ex Officio Trustee representing the Maryland School for the Blind, introduced each of their committee members and requested approval of the reports previously distributed to the Ex Officio Trustees. A motion to accept the reports as offered was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE NOMINEES

Dean Stenehjem, Chair of the Nominations Committee and Ex Officio Trustee representing the Washington State School for the Blind, presented the committee's slate of nominees for advisory committee members and chairpersons as follows:

Nancy Niebregge, Ex Officio Trustee representing Braille Institute of America, was nominated as the Chair of EPAC for 2009.

Todd Reeves, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, will be completing the term of James Oldham, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Linda Lyle, Ex Officio Trustee representing the New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped, and Yvonne Ali, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri, were nominated to serve three-year terms for EPAC.

Steven Rothstein, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Perkins School for the Blind, was nominated as the alternative committee member for EPAC for 2009.

Frank Simpson, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Lavelle School for the Blind, was nominated as the Chair of ESAC for 2009.

Sally Giittinger, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and Jonn Paris-Salb, Ex Officio Trustee representing the California Department of Education, were nominated to serve two-year terms for ESAC.

Anglyn Young, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Arkansas State Department of Education, was nominated as the alternate committee member for ESAC.

A motion to accept the nominees as EPAC and ESAC committee members was made, seconded, and unanimously passed.

RECOGNITION OF RETIRING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Bob Brasher and Janie Blome recognized the retiring Chairs of the Advisory Committees, Michael Bina and James Downs. Also recognized were the alternate members of both Advisory Committees, Barb Perkis and Dean Stenehjem.

Dr. Tinsley provided the closing remarks. The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2009 APH ANNUAL MEETING

Phil Hatlen, Superintendent of the Texas School for the Blind (retired) was the recipient of APH's highest honor, the Wings of Freedom Award. Hatlen was honored for his lifetime achievement in the field of blindness, including the creation of the expanded core curriculum. Here Hatlen poses with Patricia Williams of the Hatlen Center (left) and Betsy Wada.

Samir Azer of the Kentucky School for the Blind was the recipient of APH's Virgil Zickel Award. Azer received the award for creating novel materials to help teach the periodic table of the elements and for working with APH staff to create a product based on these materials. Here Azer (left) poses with APH President Tuck Tinsley.

Carl Augusto, President of the American Foundation of the Blind, gave an inspirational speech about his life journey and his keys to success. Here Augusto (left) poses with Tuck Tinsley.

Each year APH helps a group of direct service providers who have never attended Annual Meeting with an attendance scholarship. The 2009 scholars and their sponsoring Ex Officio Trustees were (l-r) Karen Ross (MA), sponsor of Justine Muir; Julie VanDover (SD), sponsored by Marjorie Kaiser; Clay Jeffcoat, who was sponsored by Marty McKenzie (SC); Michele Craig, sponsored by Dottie Goodman (TX) (not pictured).

Members of the Committee are honored to have been asked to perform the important assignment of nominating Ex Officio Trustees to serve on APH's two Advisory Committees.

The Educational Products Advisory Committee and the Educational Services Advisory Committee support APH in the organization's continuous improvement process, focusing on providing quality products and services that effectively meet the needs of our field. Ex Officio Trustees benefit and contribute through service on the Advisory Committees; the experience is an opportunity to learn about APH and to impact our important work.

Advisory Committee members are nominated with the following in mind:

Geographic representation;

Representation from a variety of agencies eligible for Federal Quota Funds;

Experience as an Ex Officio Trustee;

No Advisory Committee experience in the last three years;

Gender diversity;

A willingness to accept the responsibilities of the membership;

The members of the Nominations Committee may not self-nominate.

The 2009 Nominations Committee recommended the following slate that was unanimously approved at the Formal Meeting of the Ex Officio Trustees convened on October 17, 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky:

EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

For three-year terms as committee members: Yvonne Ali, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Linda Lyle, Ex Officio Trustee representing the New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped and the New Mexico State Department of Education

Alternate for a one-year term: Steven Rothstein, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Perkins School for the Blind (MA)

The full 2009-2010 Educational Products Advisory Committee will be: (The year preceding the name indicates the final year of regular committee tenure.)

Chair—Nancy Niebrugge, California

2010—Suzanne Dalton, Florida

2010—Stacy Grandt, Wisconsin

2011—Marty McKenzie, South Carolina

2011—Todd Reeves, Pennsylvania

Alternate—Steven Rothstein, Massachusetts

THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chair for a one-year term: Frank Simpson, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Lavelle School for the Blind (NY)

For two-year terms as committee members: Sally Giittinger, Ex Officio Trustee representing the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who are Blind and Visually Impaired; Jonn Paris-Salb, Ex Officio Trustee representing the California Department of Education

The full 2009-2010 Educational Services Advisory Committee will be: (The year preceding the name indicates the final year of regular committee tenure.)

Chair—Frank Simpson, New York

2010—Marjorie Kaiser, South Dakota

2010—Barbara McCarthy, Virginia

2011—Sally Giittinger, Nebraska

2011—Jonn Paris-Salb, California

Alternate—Angyln Young, Arkansas

The Nominations Committee thanks the new and returning Advisory Committee members and chairs for their willingness to serve. We encourage all interested Ex Officio Trustees to declare your interest to be a future Advisory Committee member; it is the single most important way to contribute as an Ex Officio Trustee.

Respectfully submitted,Dean Stenehjem, Chair

Jackie Denk and Barbara Perkis, Members of the Nominations Committee
Louisville, Kentucky
October 17, 2009

REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009

PURPOSE OF ESAC

The purpose of the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to:

Provide oversight and leadership in the planning, evaluation, and delivery of services.

Identify new services needed.

Assist the promotion of APH products through services, and

Advise APH on general operations and communications as they relate to the accountability of services provided.

INTRODUCTION TO ESAC REPORT

In April of 2009 the Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) met in joint and separate sessions. The ESAC committee met to address the 2008 ESAC report and to develop commendations and recommendations. To assist with this endeavor, interactive presentations were made by APH's administrative staff and ESAC committee members. These interactive presentations provided progress updates on the 2008 recommendations, operations and information on new initiatives.

ESAC COMMENDATIONS 2009

Consistent with the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind (1879), the Committee commends APH for:

Creating a positive working environment for staff and a transparent, customer-responsive climate that invites open communication and collaboration between Ex Officio Trustees and the APH leadership team.

Supporting the staff's innovative approach to solving unique challenges and furthering opportunities for customers by their hardworking, caring, and thoughtful contributions.

Addressing the following recommendations in the 2008 ESAC report:

Expand products and services to students who are categorized as non-readers.

Enhance the Student Registration System (SRS) with improved security, robustness, cross-referencing, and design features which allow for future improvements.

Develop the virtual tour of the APH Museum.

Produce product infomercials.

Develop alternative assessment guidelines.

Enhancing the APH website by implementing:

Social networking strategies to ensure increased exposure to stakeholders who may benefit from APH products and services.

Evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of distance-based training and determine the necessary resources and development of APH staff expertise in use of delivering information via this methodology.

Consider partnering with other organizations to sponsor regional or national conferences for direct service providers on the range, scope, use and value of APH products and services.

Investigate paid web advertising and raise APH Google rank to increase awareness and access for families and service providers who could benefit from APH products and services.

Expand the Louis database by incorporating table of contents, cover images and copyright and publishing information when missing from record.

Implement plan to provide training to assistants working with Ex Officio Trustees to register students in the APH quota registration.

Collect census information on the primary language of learners in order to project for future products and services.

Expand the Louis system to allow for unified search capability.

Expand the Tactile Graphics Image Library usage by:

Acquiring more graphic images for all ages of reader and non-reading populations.

Developing awareness and increasing training opportunities.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Bina, Chair
Educational Services Advisory Committee

REPORT OF THE EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE FOR THE BLIND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009

PURPOSE OF EPAC

The purpose of the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) is:

To advise APH in establishing priorities, standards, and policies regarding publications and products.

To review research and development priorities, suggest additional areas of interest, and advise APH staff on the prioritization of needs and projects.

To review research and development progress and provide critiques and suggestions as needed.

To review products under development and to consider approval of finished products for purchase with Federal Quota funds.

To advise APH generally on topics relevant to the education and rehabilitation of persons who are blind and visually impaired.

To advise APH in planning future initiatives based on innovative ideas and current trends.

To advocate for and support the administration of the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind (1879) by APH.

To facilitate communications and partnerships between APH and appropriate entities.

To recommend parents, caregivers, students, clients, and professionals in the field to serve as subjects for research or field-test purposes, as project consultants, and/or as committee members.

To help keep APH staff informed of trends or important discussions/debates occurring in the field.

INTRODUCTION TO EPAC REPORT

In May of 2009, the Educational Products Advisory Committee (EPAC) met for the eighth year as a formal advisory body to the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). The committee members gathered to hear responses to the recommendations from the previous year. They heard general information from each of the Department Directors about the past year and activities that have taken place in each department. Additionally, members of the committee met individually with project staff. The EPAC would like to express gratitude for being welcomed with open arms and generous hospitality. The candidness of the APH staff and administration during our discussions was much appreciated.

EPAC COMMENDATIONS 2009

The EPAC commends the American Printing House for the Blind for:

Solicitation of partnerships involving both national and international experts and companies within and outside our field. We believe this approach lends credibility and professional relevance to APH products. Most notable of these include the variety of technology firms, contracted expert authors, and key individuals who work in our field.

Responding to a great need in the field by expediting the Building on Patterns project, and making significant improvements in the quality of this product. This action included re-organizing the workflow by dedicating additional manpower and resources as well as enlisting the participation of many skilled and highly respected professionals. Building on Patterns is a fine example of what APH can do to promote the education of students who are blind and visually impaired.

Developing the Intelligence Testing of Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired position paper, and pursuing partnerships with applicable professional organizations.

Their growing commitment to improvement in their technology infrastructure and e-commerce system. The enhancements completed this year to the Louis Database will facilitate the ability to search and find accessible products through a greatly improved user interface. In addition, these measures give our industry and products greater presence in the online community through search engine optimization.

Undertaking the innovative cortical visual impairment project and for their willingness to spend the time and effort to create a foundational document based on national and international perspectives. The accompanying DVD project will provide valuable information to the field.

Proactively seeking partnerships with test publishers such as Curriculum Associates and The Woodcock-Munoz Foundation, who graciously provided their expertise and financial support for adapting accessible test materials.

Exceeding the expectations and statutory requirements associated with the National Instructional Materials Access Center in both quality and quantity of files sets available in the repository. The staff has been diligent in their responses to the complex set of issues brought forth by both individuals and organizations.

Their thorough process, variety of internal and external resources, and extensive field review used in the development of Address: Earth, Sections I and II. The committee considers this process as exemplary and the resulting atlas as a classic reference book.

Fostering and maintaining a work environment that builds positive staff morale. APH employees clearly enjoy the work that they do, and feel valued by each other, administration, and the field.

EPAC RECOMMENDATIONS 2009

The EPAC recommends that the American Printing House for the Blind:

Pursue the development of a replacement for the Book Port that will be affordable, can play a variety of digital and audio formats, and uses an interface that is simple and intuitive.

Insure Building on Patterns, Grade 1, Units 1-4 is ready for purchase by the beginning of the 2009 school year and the remaining units 5-7 by the end of the calendar year. In order to provide continuity for the students who are using Building on Patterns, the initial units of grade 2 should be completed by the beginning of the 2010 school year and the remaining units by the end of 2010. After Building on Patterns, Grade 2, is completed, the project team should re-visit Building on Patterns, kindergarten level, to bring it up to the new standards that are used in grades 1 and 2.

Reduce development and production backlogs and implement solutions to reduce wait-times in areas such as specification writing, model creation, embossing, and printing. Consideration should be given, when feasible, to outsourcing or adding staff to ensure the most efficient and timely completion of products so that students may have access to them as soon as possible.

Continue to research and develop visual display methods that can be used in tandem with products that are currently speech-only so that teachers, parents, and other professionals can view student work. Furthermore, it is recommended that the capability for printing be added to appropriate products.

Place Verbal View Vista® on hold until it can be developed for the Microsoft® Windows 7 operating system, and make the development of the Microsoft® Office 2007 ribbon a priority.

DISTRIBUTION OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

Based on the Federal Quota Census of January 7, 2008 (FY2009)

AGENCIES RECEIVING FEDERAL QUOTA FUNDS

Agencies for the Education of the Visually Impaired in the United States Receiving Federal Quota Funds Due Under an Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, Fiscal Year 2009

Note: The agencies in this section are in the following order within each state: State Departments of Education, Schools for the Blind, Rehabilitation Programs, Programs for Students with Multiple Disabilities.

*Note: The abbreviation "PNP" means "Private, Non-profit."

State and Agency

Pupils as of January 7, 2008

FY 2009 Allocation in Dollars

Alabama

Alabama State Department of Education, Talladega

863

266,905.92

Alabama State Department of Education, *PNP, Talladega

72

22,267.93

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, Talladega

311

96,185.10

Alaska

Alaska State Department of Education, Anchorage

177

54,742.00

American Samoa

American Samoa Department of Education, Pago Pago

15

4,639.15

Arizona

Arizona State Department of Education, Phoenix

617

190,823.82

Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Tucson

263

81,339.81

Arizona State Department of Education, PNP, Phoenix

205

63,401.75

Arkansas

Arkansas State Department of Education, Sherwood

283

87,525.35

Arkansas State Department of Education, PNP, Sherwood

68

21,030.83

Arkansas School for the Blind, Little Rock

100

30,927.68

Lions World Services for the Blind, Little Rock

49

15,154.57

Conway Human Development Center, Conway

77

23,814.32

California

California Department of Education, Sacramento

5,109

1,580,095.40

California Department of Education, PNP, Sacramento

871

269,380.13

California School for the Blind, Fremont

77

23,814.32

Braille Institute of America, Los Angeles

55

17,010.23

Orientation Center for the Blind, Albany

18

5,566.98

Colorado

Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Springs

705

218,040.18

Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, Colorado Springs

64

19,793.72

Rehabilitation Center, Denver

13

4,020.60

Connecticut

Board of Education & Services for the Blind, Windsor

657

203,194.89

Board of Education & Services for the Blind, PNP, Windsor

5

1,546.38

Oak Hill School, Hartford

17

5,257.71

Connecticut State Department of Mental Retardation, Hartford

87

26,907.09

Delaware

State Department of Education, New Castle

31

9,587.58

Division for the Visually Impaired, New Castle

154

47,628.63

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington, DC

96

29,690.58

District of Columbia Department of Human Services, Washington, DC

7

2,164.94

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Riverdale, MD

136

42,061.65

Florida

Florida State Department of Education, Tampa

1,818

562,265.31

Florida State Department of Education, PNP, Tampa

101

31,236.96

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, St. Augustine

209

64,638.86

Division of Blind Services, Daytona Beach

57

17,628.78

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., Miami

31

9,587.58

Conklin Centers for the Blind, Daytona Beach

31

9,587.58

Georgia

Georgia State Department of Education, Clarkston

1,040

321,647.92

Georgia State Department of Education, PNP, Clarkston

9

2,783.49

Georgia Academy for the Blind, Macon

113

34,948.28

Center for the Visually Impaired, Atlanta

59

18,247.33

East Central Regional Hospital, Gracewood

5

1,546.38

Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation

1

309.28

Guam

Guam Department of Education, Hagatña

22

6,804.09

Hawaii

Hawaii Department of Education, Honolulu

178

55,051.28

Hawaii Department of Education, PNP, Honolulu

34

10,515.41

Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind, Honolulu

4

1,237.11

Idaho

Idaho State Department of Education, Gooding

249

77,009.94

Idaho State Department of Education, PNP, Gooding

4

1,237.11

Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, Gooding

20

6,185.54

Idaho Commission for the Blind, Boise

15

4,639.15

Idaho State School and Hospital, Nampa

5

1,546.38

Illinois

Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago

1,831

566,285.91

Illinois State Board of Education, PNP, Chicago

545

168,555.88

Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Jacksonville

103

31,855.52

The Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka

988

305,565.53

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Chicago

Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Nebraska City

11

3,402.05

Nevada

Nevada Department of Education, Carson City

317

98,040.76

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Department of Education, Concord

158

48,865.74

New Jersey

New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Newark

1,566

484,327.54

St. Joseph's School for the Blind, Jersey City

110

34,020.45

New Mexico

New Mexico State Department of Education, Alamogordo

471

145,669.40

New Mexico State Department of Education, PNP, Alamogordo

9

2,783.49

New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped, Alamogordo

89

27,525.64

New York

New York State Education Department, Batavia

2,778

859,171.08

New York State Education Department, PNP, Batavia

1,206

372,987.88

Lavelle School for the Blind, Bronx

112

34,639.01

The New York Institute for Special Education, Bronx

101

31,236.96

New York State School for the Blind, Batavia

57

17,628.78

Helen Keller National Center, Sands Point

24

7,422.64

North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Raleigh

978

302,472.76

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Raleigh

406

125,566.40

The Governor Morehead School, Raleigh

334

103,298.47

Division of Services for the Blind, Raleigh

20

6,185.54

North Dakota

Department of Public Instruction, Grand Forks

147

45,463.70

Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Grand Forks

13

4,020.60

North Dakota School for the Blind, Grand Forks

73

22,577.21

Northern Mariana Islands

Department of Education

17

5.257.71

Ohio

Ohio State Department of Education, Columbus

1,460

451,544.20

Ohio State Department of Education, PNP, Columbus

10

3,092.77

Ohio State School for the Blind, Columbus

93

28,762.75

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Department of Education, Oklahoma City

903

279,276.99

Oklahoma School for the Blind, Muskogee

79

24,432.87

Oregon

Oregon Department of Education, Salem

579

179,071.30

Oregon State School for the Blind, Salem

26

8,041.20

Oregon Department of Education, PNP, Salem

24

7,422.64

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Harrisburg

1,638

506,595.48

Pennsylvania Department of Education, PNP, Harrisburg

21

6,494.81

Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia

379

117,215.93

Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Pittsburgh

170

52,577.06

Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh, Homestead

33

10,206.14

Royer-Greaves School for the Blind, Paoli

28

8,659.75

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Department of Education, San Juan

711

219,895.84

Puerto Rico Department of Education, PNP, San Juan

13

4,020.60

Instituto Loaiza Cordero Para Niños Ciegos, Santurce

89

27,525.64

Rehabilitation Center for the Blind of Puerto Rico, San Juan

33

10,206.14

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of Education, Providence

139

42,989.48

Rhode Island Department of Education, PNP, Providence

48

14,845.29

South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Education, Florence

466

144,123.01

South Carolina School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multihandicapped, Columbia

234

72,370.78

South Carolina Commission for the Blind, Columbia

29

8,969.03

South Carolina School for the Deaf, Blind, and Multihandicapped, PNP, Columbia

51

15,773.12

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Columbia

489

151,236.38

South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Education, Pierre

74

22,886.49

South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Aberdeen

143

44,226.59

South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, Sioux Falls

8

2,474.21

Tennessee

Tennessee State Department of Education, Nashville

872

269,689.41

Tennessee State Department of Education, PNP, Nashville

41

12,680.35

Tennessee School for the Blind, Nashville

158

48,865.74

Texas

Texas Education Agency, PNP, Austin

1

309.28

Texas Education Agency, Austin

4,808

1,487,003.09

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Austin

125

38,659.61

The Lighthouse for the Blind of Houston, Houston

57

17,628.78

Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, Austin

54

16,700.95

Texas Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Austin

738

228,246.31

Utah

Utah State Office of Education, Ogden

462

142,885.90

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Ogden

201

62,164.65

Vermont

Vermont State Department of Education, Burlington

139

42,989.48

Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands Department of Education, Christiansted, St. Thomas

16

4,948.43

Virginia

Virginia Department of Education, Richmond

1,050

324,740.69

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind—Staunton, Staunton

30

9,278.31

Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Richmond

94

29,072.02

Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, PNP, Richmond

20

6,185.54

Washington

Washington State Department of Public Instruction, Vancouver

878

271,545.07

Washington State Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Vancouver

62

19,175.16

Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver

42

12,989.63

West Virginia

West Virginia State Department of Education, Romney

252

77,937.77

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, Romney

88

27,216.36

West Virginia State Department of Education, PNP, Romney

3

927.83

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison

722

223,297.88

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, PNP, Madison

19

5,876.26

Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and Educational Services for the Visually Impaired, Janesville

42

12,989.63

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Education, Sheridan

93

28,762.75

Wyoming Department of Education, PNP, Sheridan

60

18,556.61

Totals

59,355

18,357,127.33

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT

Department of Development and Magazine Services

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ACCESSIBLE MAGAZINES OFFERED BY APH

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